How Long to Read About Time: A History of Civilization in Twelve Clocks

How Long Does it Take to Read About Time: A History of Civilization in Twelve Clocks?

It takes the average reader 5 hours and 19 minutes to read About Time: A History of Civilization in Twelve Clocks by David Rooney

Assuming a reading speed of 250 words per minute. Learn more

Description

A captivating, surprising history of timekeeping and how it has shaped our world. For thousands of years, people of all cultures have made and used clocks, from the city sundials of ancient Rome to the medieval water clocks of imperial China, hourglasses fomenting revolution in the Middle Ages, the Stock Exchange clock of Amsterdam in 1611, Enlightenment observatories in India, and the high-precision clocks circling the Earth on a fleet of GPS satellites that have been launched since 1978. Clocks have helped us navigate the world and build empires, and have even taken us to the brink of destruction. Elites have used them to wield power, make money, govern citizens, and control lives—and sometimes the people have used them to fight back. Through the stories of twelve clocks, About Time brings pivotal moments from the past vividly to life. Historian and lifelong clock enthusiast David Rooney takes us from the unveiling of al-Jazari’s castle clock in 1206, in present-day Turkey; to the Cape of Good Hope observatory at the southern tip of Africa, where nineteenth-century British government astronomers moved the gears of empire with a time ball and a gun; to the burial of a plutonium clock now sealed beneath a public park in Osaka, where it will keep time for 5,000 years. Rooney shows, through these artifacts, how time has been imagined, politicized, and weaponized over the centuries—and how it might bring peace. Ultimately, he writes, the technical history of horology is only the start of the story. A history of clocks is a history of civilization.

How long is About Time: A History of Civilization in Twelve Clocks?

About Time: A History of Civilization in Twelve Clocks by David Rooney is 314 pages long, and a total of 79,756 words.

This makes it 106% the length of the average book. It also has 97% more words than the average book.

How Long Does it Take to Read About Time: A History of Civilization in Twelve Clocks Aloud?

The average oral reading speed is 183 words per minute. This means it takes 7 hours and 15 minutes to read About Time: A History of Civilization in Twelve Clocks aloud.

What Reading Level is About Time: A History of Civilization in Twelve Clocks?

About Time: A History of Civilization in Twelve Clocks is suitable for students ages 12 and up.

Note that there may be other factors that effect this rating besides length that are not factored in on this page. This may include things like complex language or sensitive topics not suitable for students of certain ages.

When deciding what to show young students always use your best judgement and consult a professional.

Where Can I Buy About Time: A History of Civilization in Twelve Clocks?

About Time: A History of Civilization in Twelve Clocks by David Rooney is sold by several retailers and bookshops. However, Read Time works with Amazon to provide an easier way to purchase books.

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